Teen Sues Her Family For Support

Several of you e-mailed me suggesting this idea for a Your Turn or to discuss it. It is a really fascinating case and if the teen wins (which she won't) would make parents think twice about asking their kids to leave the house.

Rachel Canning is 18. She has a boyfriend her parents don't approve of because they think he is a bad influence. Rachel comes from an upper income family and had a car her parents purchased for her, goes to a very expensive private school and has a substantial college fund. Rachel left her parents home. That much is agreed. She says they kicked her out. Her parents say she left voluntarily because she didn't want to live by their rules. Now, Rachel with the help of her boyfriend's attorney father is suing her own parents. She wants her car back, payments for her to continue living, her private school tuition paid and access to her college fund because she has been accepted to several universities.

Her parents don't her owe anything. They cut her off. This isn't some movie where the parents decide at the end that the boyfriend is great and make sure their child lives comfortably. She is legally an adult and unless there is some type of written contract where the parents agreed to pay these things for her she is going to be out of luck. She is a high school senior. What she should have done is sucked it up a few months until she graduated from high school and went to college and then she could do whatever she wanted with her boyfriend and just lived by their rules when she was home during breaks. But of course it is high school love and there is no such thing as waiting when your boyfriend wants to see you and her parents are so strict.

Just think about what Lindsay Lohan's life would have been like if she had parents who said no.

What's just as appalling is the lawyer who sees a case and thinks it's right to proceed (get his cut), instead of being a parent and tell her to go back home and respect her parents. I can understand a teen fleeing N busier home and demand compensation for the abuse endured and less than desirable living conditions. But this?

I'm not a lawyer, but I think the only thing she might be entitled to (besides a kick in the ass) is anything that her parents gave to her as gifts. If her car is in her name, then I don't think they can keep it, for example. Since she's 18, though, they have no legal obligation to pay anything for her.

Let me start by saying I don't have kids, but I'm old enough to be grumpy and very settled in my ways

If this was my child, I would meet her half way. She could see the boyfriend on certain nights, as agreed, and I would honestly do my best to understand what it is that she sees in him.

In one way I get where she is coming from – she doesn't know any different from what she's always had, so it's a bit rough to make her struggle on her own.

… But in the other way I can see her parents' view in that they want the best for her.

I have to say though, nobody would probably ever be good enough for her parents, so she's wasting her time trying to get their acceptance.

Is she doing the right thing? Well, yes and no … I'm sitting on the fence with this one.

My PA's daughter is about this girl's age and she has a huge sense of entitlement … is constantly expecting her parents to give – not loan – her money; and is a very, very spoilt only child who often tells her parents (quite seriously) that they are not to spend her inheritance.

If I had children, there is NO WAY I would let them speak to me like that (or have that outlook on life).

If she's that brilliant, the universities will be happy to consider giving her financial aid. Let her live on her own and work for a year, requalify with a much lower household income, and then go to college.

Apparently she wants to work in the biomedical field; surely she could find something in the health care sector that would support her ambitions.

Alternately, she can go into the military and get tuition assistance that way. I've heard college professors say that soldiers, sailors and Marines who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan are their very best students. They pay attention in class and don't screw around. They know what's at stake.

I hate people like this in general, but the parents cancelling high school tuition senior year leaves me little sympathy for them. THEY made the choice to send her to school there, which should be an implied contract, and she should be entitled to remaining tuition (as a parent can not legally force their child out of public school) and any damages associated with that, if any. I am quite sure as a 14 year old, she forced them to choose this. Risking her future is grotesque. The rest is all bs, there is no implied parental responsibility to pay for college, car, etc.

As long as her parents are not physically or emotionally abusive, I give them full props for putting their foot down. Sorry, but nobody "owes" their children a car and tuition to a fancy school. More parents should be setting boundaries for their teenagers instead of trying to be their best buddy.

The issue here is the law. Declaring yourself emancipated, for financial aid purposes, is a long, drawn out process due to how many well off people scammed the system years and years back (I got caught in this loophole). It is not as easy as just moving out for a year, contrary to popular belief. It is a giant pain and does involve some expense.

Agreed..No one OWES you anything. I applaud her parents. My mother made it very clear we weren't getting anything but ain't no one fighting over the Lazy Boy she sleeps in every night anyway.

This happened with a family whose home my husband remodeled. They always set the bar that if you came home drunk and didn't abide by their generous rules then you would be treated like the adult you thought you were and would be asked to find other living arrangements. He broke the rules and was asked to leave. They were calm and firm, no drama. It was what it was. End of story.

Nutty: Can you see this brat in the military? OMG..Cue some scenes from "Private Benjamin".

I would really like to know the legal underpinnings of her claim. There is probably a theoritical way for her to force her parents to pay for her tuition, but the judge's appreciation of the case is what would break it in my opinion.

Does anyone know what laws would apply? Is there a legal obligation of parents of minor children to provide for their education?

I moved out at 18…really because I have always been more of an adult than my mother, who was a singel teen mom, & blamed me for ruinning her life…instead taking responsibility for the choices she made….I had money I had been saving for college from working part time since I was 15, which had added up, becuase I was very good about always saving half of my pay & she wanted it, when I wouldn't hand over my money which she thought I owed her for raising me she kicked me out…I went to live with my grandpa, her adopted father…

Will working and living on your own just one year clear her from parents $$$ umbrella? I think she will have to go to court for the emancipation thing. If those colleges smell money they will dig in there heels.

I'd consider pulling tuition to the school THE PARENT chose for the child to go, in the last semester of senior year, possibly putting her ability to get a diploma at risk, irresponsible and the height of emotional abuse

I should also state I was the oldest of 5…my mom has 5 kids by 5 different men…I am now in my 20's working full time in a professional job & working on my MBA….my mom still believes she's enitlled to my money to this day & I should just want to support her…I have over 40K in student loans…She takes credit to everyone for my life, education, & job…when in reality I worked for all of it, becuase there was NO WAY IN HELL I WAS GONNA END UP LIKE HER.

Nothing so self absorbed as a teenager. 2 of my 3 are teens. They've had part time jobs since the day they turned 13 and were legally allowed to start a paper round at the local shop. Violet Jr mark 1 now works 7 days a week, before school, earning about £50 a month. They both use their own money to pay for things they want and their social activities. We expect nothing less, they are well aware that you get out if life what you are prepared to put in.

I believe there is a contract there. Her parents put up all of this money and education for their daughter to have an education. It's apparent it was all in place. That's implied. The daughter believes she has a right to this education. Personally I think she and the parents need a family councelor and not a councelor of law.

This is what happens when kids are told they are special little snow flakes all their lives. Stop giving participation trophies. Stop giving your child expensive gifts. Stop letting things like the tv and school raise your children. You get entitled little brats who think the world owes them everything handed to them on a diamond platter. (Silver platters are so old school and cheap ya know)

This girl is 18 her parents are no longer legally obligated to provide any financial support for her anymore. I agree there might be a spoken contract to at least finish paying for her private school. Although I'm not too sure about it. As far as the college fund I think it depends on who's name is on the account. If it's her name then she gets the money. If it's the parents name then it's theirs to do with as they please. Same goes for the car. Whoever is listed as legal owner gets the car.

I am so sick of these entitled brats. I used to be a nanny & the oldest, a girl, told me that if she got in trouble with a boss she would just flirt with him & she would get her way. She was 13 at the time. I weep for our future.

18 year old humans are quite often little shits. Get over yourself. Make up with your parents. Go to school and focus. Her boyfriend is a loser, and so is his dad. Do you really think lawyer pops is working this one pro bono?

Here's the thing: it's march. Her senior year is almost finished and odds are it had to be paid up front so I'm guessing that's done. Her parents don't owe her a thing. Once you choose to go your own way, all bets are off. Had I walked out of my parents door, the money train would have ended. She made her bed, she can lay in it. She didn't like their rules so why does she think she needs their financial backing? Sounds like a brat needing a swift kick in the ass and harsh dose of reality. Let her work for her education like many of us did and drive a vehicle that may not be the newest or nicest. Let her support herself since she feels so victimized. If I were her parents I'd laugh in her face and tell her good luck and God bless.

She is an entitled little sh*t, but most don't take it to this level. She wants to play hardball? bring it! I hope the 'rents have cut off her car insurance and health insurance as well. At A18, she is not required to be covered under their policies any longer. And I believe health can't come back if she is removed. Auto can be reinstated. I was a rambunctious teen, but always understood that if I went off on my own, I was truly on my own. Never expected my 'rents to finance it!

She moved out of the house on her 18th birthday, because she didn't want to live by her parents rules, so they cut her off.

Here is the problem, and the interesting thing to watch in how the judge rules: In NJ child support continues until a child is emancipated. Other states it is 18 and done, NJ it can go on forever. This is to protect and provide for children suffering from debilitating disease like Downs Syndrome.

Now since this entitled bim moved out at 18, I don't know if that is grounds for emancipation to be implied, like a spouse leaving the family home during a divorce is "abandonment" or her parents would have to get a judge to emancipate her and wash their hands of her.

Really, I don't think the parents will have to give her anything, except the college money IF it is in her name. The car isn't in her name, so she has no right to that.

The biggest piece of shit in this scenario is the friend's father, who is bankrolling the lawsuit. $12.5k in legal fees so far? Tell me he aint getting a taste of that from the friend he got to represent the entitled bim, after he fluffed her up. You don't butt into other people's family business, but this guy is a typical sleazy North Jersey lawyer, so what do you expect.

Ya know maybe her parents didn't create a monster. Some people are truly born that way. Look at Bella's mom. She probably also expected that 1 of those 5 men would be her ticket out rather than using her brain and working hard.

Good for you Bella. I'm sure your siblings are taking from your example and not your mothers.

I am a lawyer, but not in NJ. She likely doesn't have to be legally emancipated since she is 18. In Texas, child support is generally until a child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever event is later. There is absolutely no obligation for anyone to provide to anybody's college expenses, unless there is something written, a court order, a trust or otherwise. Good luck proving an oral contract.

Re: the car – if it is in her name, then it was a gift. Likely not in her name, because generally parents of minors keep the car in their name for lower insurance rates.

Seems to me there are many unanswered questions in this drama, but court shouldn't be the place to work them out.

I left school at 17, much to my mother's disgust. I was at boarding school and absolutely hated it, so left got a fantastic job working as an Office Junior for a merchant bank. I also left home and went flatting, after one too many fights with my parents, and six months later had managed to save enough money to move to Sydney (much to my mother's disgust), where I stayed for a couple of years, working for another bank, before returning home. So when people say 'oh she's too young' etc., etc., I just think 'meh'. I did it and coped very well (much to my mother's disgust).

She had rules and didn't follow them. She was grounded and said forget it… she was 18 and could do what she wanted. SHE moved to her friends house and told her parents to FO. Little shit. I'm with the parents all the way…

I was an absolute ass as a teenager. Took off to California at 16 with the sole purpose of losing my virginity. Dropped out of high school when I was 17 – in order to stay living at home, I had to take my GED, enroll in college classes that I paid for myself, and have a full-time job. I did it just fine. Dropped out of college due to personal issues and got two full time jobs. When I was 25 I got serious about school again – got scholarships and financial aid. Paid cash for what I could. Had a full time job at the university and another bartending to pay my bills. Graduated with honors. My mom never paid one cent for my college education and now we're closer than ever.

Anyway I have no sympathy for spoiled little shits who think they are 'owed' money for college. Get real.

Granted, I went to college in the dark ages of the '90s, but my parents' income (paltry as it was) was taken into consideration when I applied for financial aid. The school assumed they were kicking in, when they definitely were not and could not.

My heart does not bleed. It also works both ways. Sometimes the parents are fiends or selfish horrible people. Not in this case but just saying.

I have a friend who is a publicly appointed lawyer that works on behalf of minors, she had one client who was a quiet studious girl of 15 but her fashion designer mother felt her daughter was not living up to her standards, not skinny enough, etc. In other words this kid was anyone else's dream child but not this woman.

The mother was remarried and the father was remarried all socialites too busy for parenting and this girl was kicked out of the house for being late to one of mommy dearest's dinner party/soirees – this kid on her own, got an apartment, a part time job and still managing to go to high school but wanted a little more to help ends meet, she had no desire to return home – this was in a very expensive city – I never found out how that went, I was surprised the parents were fighting this to begin with but I am pretty sure mama coughed up something lest she face the embarrassment of her "crowd", lest they find out she was a self absorbed cretin who should have never had children.

I never understand the divorced wealthy dads who are cheapskates either.

Good on you Stepforded, in a way your mother did you a favour, you found out how strong you were young.

If she was a minor there would be a legal claim for support because parents are obligated to support their children up to adulthood, but the kind of support those kids are claiming sounds like this girl's petty cash. But I also imagine the court would try to get the kid home first if it was possible and safe and order the whole family into counselling.

You often have in the case of divorce, child support going to age 21 or until college is finished but that is agreed upon by the parties. Unless of course the now adult child has a disability of some kind. Or I know in Ontario if you make a claim for Welfare, and someone else has a duty to support you, you are forced to sue that person as a condition of receiving social assistance and then the government will collect from that person.

No doubt a fuzzy area of law but maybe there is precedent, that would be why a lawyer would take on the case.

@Anna Belle. We should really introduce your mother to my father. 8 kids by 5 different women, signed adoption papers to get out of child support (which was no loss because he only picked me up for visitation when his grandma wanted to see me,) but loves to go around and tell everyone about his college graduate daughter.

I like to go around waving my adoption papers in the air proclaiming I am in no way related to him and I have the legal documents to prove it.

Agree with Tina, it can work both ways. Overall she's an honours student who has been accepted to university for studying biochemistry. That doesn't really say 'wild child' or obnoxious brat to me. The Police Chief Dad though,… Ok curfew, politeness and chores are good, but how far does he take that? I knew a girl growing up who was practically only allowed out of the house to go to school. She had to be at home to clean the house top to bottom, every day, after her parents had spent all day messing it up, not to mention cook dinner and look after her 2 younger siblings, while they went to the pub to get drunk all night. She would've been severely disciplined if she had tried talking back or even been accidentally late arriving home. We don't know how far said discipline would've gone, as she was too frightened to even think of not following them to the letter (and I think we all know and can tell the difference between respect and fear). That's not a good home and this was her life from age 13 until 20, as she was banned from moving out at 18 and was too worried / scared to disobey and leave her younger sister and brother alone with her parents. Who knows, maybe the friend's parent is helping her because they've witnessed what she's been through. They themselves say that when it's time for the lawsuit, they will 'have lots to say'.

All of that said though, the parents should pay for the high school fees (it's not the high school's fault) and that should be it.

Ah, how soothing it would be to live in the simple sphere of Entyworld, where you form an opinion after five minutes of unthorough thought about incomplete information, and that's that.

In the real world, things are usually more complex. Was the car a gift? It is in her name? If so, if they're keeping her form it, they're probably guilty of Grand Theft Auto, and good for jail time. Was the college fund set up specifically to pay for her college education? Is her name on that??? They may not have any right to withhold that, either. Did they make to support her as long as she stayed in school? They may not be legally entitled to unilaterally change their minds.

It's one thing to leave over a bad situation. Parents in jail, drugs, abuse. That I get. But to leave because you can't abide by rules where you live rent free and have been provided a vehicle and lunch money? Yeah, no. Being a brat who is probably ill equipped to handle big girl life will have her eating your words. You went out and made it and made a life for yourself and worked hard. I highly doubt princess here is gonna master anything except the art of begging for a handout.

You want to be a grown up, pay your own way. No one owes you diddly. Since about 40 years ago, the kids have huge expectations and a misplaced sense of entitlement when it comes to their parents. Its unreal. Then when they have children, you are expected to be available to co parent them, and you should not complain, it should be your absolute pleasure. Good for her parents!!!!!!!!!!!! She needs a good boot in the ass. And yes, I speak from experience, lol

If there is a college fund set up in her name, then of course she's entitled to it. There are several variations of college savings accounts but the parent is only the custodian. I know people that were trying to dip into their kids education funds for personal use but it is technically illegal. If a fund is set up, every penny of that must be used for the child that it is set up for. There is no "take backs"If, however, the parents were just planning on paying for college out-of-pocket then that is an entirely different story.

In shocking legal documents submitted to the court, honor-roll student Rachel Canning, 18, said her parents’ behavior contributed to her developing an eating disorder at a young age and saw her weight plummet down to 92 pounds.

She also said she was cruelly dragged into her parents’ marital problems when they separated last year.

I am going out on a limb and disagreeing with the majority here and siding with the girl. These parents sound completely awful. It seems as though this girl did everything she was supposed to with the verbally agreed to plan to finish her private school and enter college. She has already been accepted and received partial scholarships, which are all based upon parent's financial income. So her parents tell her she has to live by their rules or move out, which she does, but then they really pull the rug out from under her because of their anger and stop paying her HS tuition and then tell her they won't help pay for college. I don't know exactly what precipitated the rules that she supposedly broke, but it seems to me that they should have an obligation (particularly if they participated in looking for colleges, helping her fill out the application forms and most importantly, signed off on financial forms indicating they would be helping her with her college finances.) I do see a lot of room here for plenty of implied, verbal and perhaps even documented proof that they intended to pay for her college. I say that should be enough for her to get something out of these creeps who want to continue to run their daughter's life, not just now, but for the rest of her life. The judge should award her with the final high school tuition bill and whatever share of her college education they had committed to initially. Please, ruin your daughter's future because you don't like the guy she is dating??? GMAB!!!

Apparently she sent an email to her parents saying she was her own worst enemy, and she's had quite a few problems over the last year (drinking, suspended from school). Maybe her parents just had enough and said get out. Whatever. I think this lawsuit is being pushed by her friend's lawyer dad…

I did this exact same thing when I was a senior in hight school (minus the attempt at a lawsuit). My parents cut me off, understandably so, and I came back, with my tail between my legs, 8 months later PROMISING I WOULD BE BETTER. Bottom line: spoiled fucking brat. I was one, my parents corrected the behavior (thank god) and now that I read this as an adult, I feel embarrassed of myself and grateful for parents who would not back down. Good for her parents!!! I hope this shameless lawyer does not win this lawsuit for this disgusting brat. UGH.

Weighing in here to say I believe that in many of the northeastern states (perhaps NJ, not sure) child support in instances of divorce is now required for children who are admitted to and attend 2- or 4-year colleges fulltime, until they turn 22 or graduate whichever comes first. The idea is that the support money should assist in paying education costs, which have skyrocketed in recent years.

"Children" who are going ft to college are also required in some states to be covered by their parents health insurance. In some places this goes to age 25 or 26, if they go to grad school or until said "child" obtains employment offering benefits. Again supposedly to protect young adult "children" in harsher economic times.

I'm not a lawyer so this is open to contradiction. These legal revisions may be the genesis of this girl's suit: if you can't stop paying college costs for a child because of marital divorce, can parents stop because they choose to "divorce" their child because they disapprove of her behavior?

As a NJ resident, I have to laugh at all this. My parents wanted me to go to the same "fancy school" that this idiot attends. It's a Catholic school, not some fancy prep school as they make you believe. I saw what they were offering their students and wanted nothing to do with it. I fought them on it and won. Now this girl is fighting to stay in. This speaks more about her character to me than anything else- brat living in lala land.

Channel 12 news report of yesterday's hearing was good. Judge denied the bim's request for $600/week in support and didn't make her parents pay the HS tuition, for now. Set new date for next month to conclude the thing.

I agree spoiled. The car was a gift & should be hers. The parents sent her to the private school & should pay for the last semester. I grew up width very strict parents, & abided by their rules( except when I secretly didn't) that said I paid my own university fees & worked hard to do this . Gave me a sense of indepence & a great work ethic. She should do the same. Does she expect mum & dad to pay for her rent & 1st house? NO WAY should she receive any compensation from them.She's has obviously done very well in school, but a bit dumb & naive as well.Rant over.

DISCLAIMER

CRAZY DAYS AND NIGHTS IS A GOSSIP SITE. THE SITE PUBLISHES RUMORS, CONJECTURE, AND FICTION. IN ADDITION TO ACCURATELY REPORTED INFORMATION, CERTAIN SITUATIONS, CHARACTERS AND EVENTS PORTRAYED IN THE BLOG ARE EITHER PRODUCTS OF THE AUTHOR'S IMAGINATION OR ARE USED FICTITIOUSLY. INFORMATION ON THIS SITE MAY CONTAIN ERRORS OR INACCURACIES; THE BLOG'S PROPRIETOR DOES NOT MAKE WARRANTY AS TO THE CORRECTNESS OR RELIABILITY OF THE SITE'S CONTENT. LINKS TO CONTENT ON AND QUOTATION OF MATERIAL FROM OTHER SITES ARE NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CRAZY DAYS AND NIGHTS.